ArticleInternational journal of sports physical therapy2016
PERTINENT DRY NEEDLING CONSIDERATIONS FOR MINIMIZING ADVERSE EFFECTS - PART ONE.
Article in International journal of sports physical therapy, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 27 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
27 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 56 citations in OpenAlex.
- Acupuncture for Chronic Pain Management in Haemophilic Arthropathy: A Systematic Review.Haemophilia : the official journal of the World Federation of Hemophilia · 2025Pooled it
- Intramuscular electrical stimulation added to home exercise for myofascial shoulder pain: a randomized controlled trial.Scientific reports · 2026Trial
- A review of the synergistic mechanisms of Yijinjing, meridian sinew therapy, dry needling, and Fascial Manipulation in chronic cervical myofascial pain based on the fascia-meridian sinew continuum.Frontiers in medicine · 2026Review
- Are palpation-guided interventional procedures on the adductor longus muscle safe? A cadaveric and sonographic investigation.Surgical and radiologic anatomy : SRA · 2025Article
- Patient-Perceived Benefits and Adverse Events of Dry Needling.International journal of sports physical therapy · 2025Article
- Prediction Model for Sciatic Nerve Procedures: A Cross-Sectional Study.Journal of clinical medicine · 2024Article
- Adverse Reactions to Dry Needling Therapy: Insights from Polish Physiotherapy Practice.Journal of clinical medicine · 2024Article
- Current State of Dry Needling Practices: A Comprehensive Analysis on Use, Training, and Safety.Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) · 2024Article
- Testing the Safety of Piriformis Dry Needling Interventions: An Observational Study Evaluating the Predictive Value of Anthropometric and Demographic Factors.Journal of clinical medicine · 2024Article
- Ultrasound verification of palpation-based dry needling techniques of rotator cuff muscles: a prospective feasibility trial.The Journal of manual & manipulative therapy · 2024Observational
- Pneumothorax as a complication of dry needling technique.ERJ open research · 2024Article
- Effect of Dry Needling on the Masseter Muscle in the Tinnitus Perception of Patients with Temporomandibular Disorder.Journal of maxillofacial and oral surgery · 2023Article
- Lack of standardization in dry needling dosage and adverse event documentation limits outcome and safety reports: a scoping review of randomized clinical trials.The Journal of manual & manipulative therapy · 2023Article
- Correlation between Anthropometric and Ultrasound Measurement for Dry Needling of the Iliocostalis Lumborum Muscle with a Safety Protocol: A Cross-Sectional Observational Study.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2022Article
- The Effectiveness of Dry Needling in Patients with Hip or Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Life (Basel, Switzerland) · 2022Review
- Dry Needling and Antithrombotic Drugs.Pain research & management · 2022Review
- Enhancing Trigger Point Dry Needling Safety by Ultrasound Skin-to-Rib Measurement: An inter-Rater Reliability Study.Journal of clinical medicine · 2020Article
- Periarticular needle-based therapies can cause periprosthetic knee infections.Arthroplasty today · 2020Article
- Safety of dry needling to the upper lumbar spine: a pilot cadaver study.The Journal of manual & manipulative therapy · 2020Article
- ADVERSE EVENTS ASSOCIATED WITH THERAPEUTIC DRY NEEDLING.International journal of sports physical therapy · 2020Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
2 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundDry needling is an evidence-based treatment technique that is accepted and used by physical therapists in the United States. This treatment approach focuses on releasing or inactivating muscular trigger points to decrease pain, reduce muscle tension, and assist patients with an accelerated return to active rehabilitation. ISSUE: While commonly used, the technique has some patient risk and value of the treatment should be based on benefit compared to the potential risk. Adverse effects (AEs) with dry needling can be mild or severe, with overall incidence rates varying from zero to rates of approximately 10 percent. While mild AEs are the rule, any procedure that involves a needle insertion has the potential for an AE, with select regions and the underlying anatomy increasing the risk. Known significant AEs from small diameter needle insertion include pneumothorax, cardiac tamponade, hematoma, infection, central nervous system injury, and other complications. PURPOSE/
objectiveUnderlying anatomy across individuals has variability, requiring an in-depth knowledge of anatomy prior to any needle placement. This commentary is an overview of pertinent anatomy in the region of the thorax, with a 'part two' that addresses the abdomen, pelvis, back, vasovagal response, informed consent and other pertinent issues. The purpose of the commentary is to minimize the risk of a dry needling AE. CONCLUSIONS/IMPLICATIONS: Dry needling is an effective adjunct treatment procedure that is within the recognized scope of physical therapy practice. Physical therapy education and training provides practitioners with the anatomy, basic sciences, and clinical foundation to use this intervention safely and effectively. A safe and evidenced-based implementation of the procedure is based on a thorough understanding of the underlying anatomy and the potential risks, with risks coordinated with patients via informed consent. LEVELS OF EVIDENCE: Level 5.
Indexed as
Identifiers
27525188PMC4970854W2509172662What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.